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The 5.2 million tourists that visit Australia each year go there because they know they can get everything they want from one destination, such as a rich culture, delectable food, world-famous Australian wine, wildlife, natural wonders, hot beaches, unique experiences and great shopping. Americans have been fascinated with Australia for decades. When we think of Australians, we picture Crocodile Dundee or the Crocodile Hunter. When we think of Australian culture, perhaps we think of a boomerang, a didgeridoo, an Indiana Jones hat, a vegemite sandwich, a surfer or a sand boarder. When we think of the Australian continent, we may picture the Australian outback with kangaroos and koalas, or a stretch of beach where platypus, humpback whales and great white sharks play. No matter what your image of Australia may be, it’s a world-class destination with a whole host of wonders!

Australia is a wonderful romantic getaway if you both enjoy the great outdoors! It is one of twelve “megadiverse” countries that accounts for 75% of the world’s biodiversity, says the Department of Environment and Climate Change. The existence of Australian animals on the island fascinates biologists, who attribute the tremendous biodiversity to being allowed to proliferate without human interference for so many years. Remember, Australia was not even officially declared a country until 1901. It’s not every day that you can see 45 species of kangaroo hopping through the brush, an enormous emu running with its gangly ostrich-like legs, or hear a laughing kookaburra in the tree. Some animals can only be found down under. The Tasmanian devil, for instance, is only found in Australia. To Australian guides, it may be nothing to see a playful platypus, 100 varieties of poisonous snakes, 56 species of parrots, a koala or a wild dingo, but travelers are always somewhat bewildered by the sudden emergence of animals they had only previously seen on TV or at the zoo. The bush and the Australian outback are unique experiences, so try to arrange a four-wheel-drive tour to catch the wildlife in Australia’s great outdoors!

Visit Australia to surf and hang on the beach. Australians have, by far, the best surf in the world. According to a RealSurf.com reader poll, the top five surf spots are: Kirra and Burleigh in Queensland, Bells in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia and Shark Island in New South Wales. It should also be noted that the next four spots, and the vast majority of top surf destinations, are all in New South Wales. Of course, some people who visit Australia just want the hot sun rays, the turquoise water and swatches of powdery sand. If you’re in Sydney, then Frommers recommends golfing, surfing or sun bathing at Palm Beach. In New South Wales, you can go to Hyams Beach, which is the whitest beach in the world. Queensland offers idyllic beaches, like the Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas, Mission Beach, Whitehaven Beach, or Surfers Paradise Beach. In Western Australia, you might see a wild camel, find a South Sea pearl at Cable Beach or visit the beautiful Cottesloe Beach in Perth.

Whether you decide to visit Australia for the wine, the festivals or the natural sights, you won’t be disappointed. The best way to arrange travel is probably through an agent, who can pack a full itinerary for you. If you try to plan it yourself, then you’re likely to feel overwhelmed. Australia isn’t the cheapest place to visit, but it’s definitely a life-changing experience. Often visitors come for a spell and decide to become expatriates in this quixotic country.